Disclaimer: Nothing Belongs to me except the plot which is now copywrite under Nuttyginger Glass Designs, just for conventience.
At All Costs - Part Two
He resisted the urge to pull her into his arms and banish what ever pain was making her cry, but he was that pain and he had still had to tell her the reason he was here.
"Cordelia, I have something to tell you but I don't want you to be frightened."
Cordelia stood up and straightened her shirt. "What could frighten me? Demons trying to take over the world, Vampires, eyes being gorged out? I don't think." She covered her mouth in a pretend yawn. "Been there, done that."
"Someone might be trying to kill you." He studied her closely for a reaction. "Did you hear what I said? Someone or something is trying to kill you."
"Yeah, I'm not deaf you know. People try and kill us everyday, they are called Wolfram and Hart and they haven't done very well at it yet."
"Not US, YOU. But don't worry they won't get near you."
"Why would they be trying to kill me, I'm nothing but a Seer, not even the PTB like me." Cordelia stumbled backward and Angel reached out to catch her.
Buffy now stood at the door, watching the intimacy, the familiarity between the two, her heart taking another beating. Her brain taking in the words and the scene that was taking place in her training room. His arms as they reached out, almost automatically, as Cordelia stumbled over the padded mats. The way he now sat on the mats, stroking her hair, soothing her sobs. Waiting for her to speak. This was coming from her true love, her immortal. He was sitting there with someone he hardly knew and she hated, in his lap. This was too surreal for her but she couldn't turn away.
"Why do they want to kill me? I thought that they wanted Angelus." Cordelia whimpered.
"I guess they finally figured out that wasn't going to happen. They are trying to destroy me in the most painful way possible, by taking those I love and hold dear."
Cordelia sprung up out of his lap as if he were on fire. "Then it isn't me that you need to protect, it's Buffy. They will start with Buffy and your Sire hates Buffy as well. I say double whammy, much."
"Cordelia I went to Wolfram and Hart, stole some files. Here." He handed the same file he had taken from Lindseys drawer. "They are all pictures of you. Don't you see? Now the Oracles are gone and Whistler isn't around, you are my only connect to the PTB. Take that away and I have no fight. Also we were best friends, we share a link. I knew you weren't in LA and I knew to find you here. The visions are that link, you mean a great deal to me, Lindsey knows that. Do I have to spell it out to you?" Angel asked growing impatient.
Cordelia pretended to think about it. "Um...Yes." Angel went to open his mouth. "No don't bother I get the picture." She giggled at the unintended joke. "God they even took pictures of me without any make-up on. So what do we do?"
"I think it would be better if we stayed here a while, I mean who is better to protect you than a souled Vampire, a Slayer, A commando, and the Slayettes? I'll get the mansion sorted and we can stay there. Wesley and Gunn are going to stay in LA, let us know about Wolfram and Hart plus they have to fight your demon visions. Cordelia, I'm sorry about letting you down and turning my back on you. I never ever wanted to hurt you."
Cordelia reached out and lightly touched him on the arm. "I know, if I had known for a second that she was going to cause this much trouble I would have shackled you into the basement and went and staked her myself, or got Wesley to do it. I should have made you talk to me instead of being so self obsessed. I tell you what, you take me out for a cappuccino and a Danish and we'll call it quits."
"Deal." Angel smiled for the first time in a month.
"These mats are very comfy though."
Buffy heard Cordelia and Angel climb to their feet, their feet padding about on the mats as they pulled each other up. She scurried across the wooden floor and into the closet where the weapons were kept, trying to be as quite as possible. Buffy listen as Angel and Cordelia left the shop with Cordelia saying. "Have you heard about Spike?" She slumped down the door missing the cross bow and the silver broadsword on the way down. She wrapped her arms around herself, hugging herself in a bid the control her body as it racked with sobs.
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"So he tries to go for me but this pain goes through his head and he jumps back. The look on his face was priceless as he sat there on his butt." Cordelia laughed.
Angel sat and listened, laugh were necessary but smiling genuinely everytime her smile reminded how he had nearly lost her. Her smile faltered slightly but Angel saw it.
"Cordelia, what's up? There's something on your mind."
Her smile was gone now. "I was just thinking what if Wolfram and Hart do get to me, what will happen to your redemption?"
"TPTB will probably send me another Seer. Cordelia you are safe with me, no one will hurt you. You do realise that my redemption won't happen in your life time."
"Yeah I know, but I wanna help as much as I can. I seen what you were like when Doyle died. If it hadn't been for the visions, my audition, Wesley, and me getting kidnapped, you would have wallowed in guilt and pity till you staked yourself. You have to promise me if, when, I die you won't grieve or wallow, be happy. Celebrate that the world is down another crappy actress and that you are finally rid of your whinny Seer." She half laughed, looking into his eyes.
Angel placed his hand over hers. "You amaze me so much. Thank-you."
Buffy watched form the shadows, her heart almost breaking in two again. It had taken her so long to mend, the whole summer, almost a year. In the end she decided to give Angel what he wanted for her, a normal life. It didn't quite work out that way but she was happy, until now. She saw the closeness the two shared and she was jealous. She yearned for that feeling again. Riley had been distant from her since he had found out about Angel, he had changed. The Vampire bite on his neck had never healed probably and when ever she had went to see him in his dorm she could smell Vampire all around her. She turned back the cafe scene but they were gone.
Angel pushed the heavy oak door, sealed shut by the rain and the Ivy that had claimed it since he had left nearly three years ago. No one else had been there in that time, no one would dare enter the Lair of Angelus. Angel held up the droopy Ivy as Cordelia passed through the doorway and into the huge expanse of the entrance hall. She sniffed the air.
"Eww, it's smelly in here. You never had air freshener in 17 hundred and odd then? I guess not."
"Cordelia, the house hasn't been used in three years. Expected it to be musty in some places."
"You really like he old, ruin look don't you? I like new and fresh and non-wood word furniture. Dennis would love it here, so much to tidy." She looked in a distant manner.
Angel disappeared for a second and came back holding a mahogany and silver box. "Here open it."
Cordelia peeled back the lid like Pandorras Box and a whoosh of air flew passed her ears. The wind then began spinning around the room, blowing dust everywhere.
"Dennis!" Cordelia cried out as if the ghost would hug her back. "Angel how did.."
"He was creating a commotion at your apartment and the police were called. Kate called me since it was your apartment and Dennis was playing Jazz at full blast on your stereo. So I performed a Wandering spell on him and here he is."
"You knew that I would take you back, I mean that I would forgive you didn't you?"
"No I didn't but I didn't know how long you were going to be in Sunnydale and we dead guys stick together."
"Dennis find the biggest room in the house, it will be mine and tidy it up. Fresh sheets, everything. Then tidy the kitchen. I will start on the living room. You," She pointed at Angel. "Go find a room, the sun will be up soon and you'll need to help Buffy in the evening. She has some sort of big battle coming up and she needs help by the sounds of things. I don't know, give her all the super powers in the world and she still needs a man to sort out her demons." Cordelia shook her head.
Angel smiled and walked out in to the bedroom area of the mansion. He went into one room and as soon as he entered it, Dennis started whizzing around, changing the sheets, pulling down the shutters against the advancing sun.
Angel lay here staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. He could hear Cordelia rustling downstairs. It was a comforting sound, it meant she was safe and that was all that mattered right now. if he concentrated hard enough he could hear her heart beating.
Cordelia felt him move through the house, she still sat there, tracing the blackened outline near the fireplace where Angel had fell back to earth. She felt cold hands on her shoulders.
"God Angel, how many times do I have to tell you to hum when your creeping up on people?"
"I don't hum Cordelia."
"I'll buy you a cat collar and padlock it to your neck, I swear."
"I'll hum." He said quickly "Anyway, why haven't you gone to bed?"
"I haven't read a bit of my book yet. I can't sleep if I don't." Cordelia whined then pouted.
"Well if you check the library, I'm sure you'll find it there."
"Nah this on was on-line and no computer means no Internet so no reading. You really should have this place modernised. I mean the minimalist look was good, like last year and it really doesn't go with this Out-Of-The-Ark look."
Angel turned and walked out of the living room into a room off the hall. He came back carrying an ancient looking book in his hands. He blew the layer of thick dust off the top of it and opened if up. He motioned Cordelia to come over to the couch and sit beside him. She lowered herself into Angels lap and he pulled her across him. She nestled nicely of his chest, rubbing her face into the comforting feel of his soft woollen jumper. He opened the book and turned to the first yellowed page.
"What's it called?" Cordelia mumbled.
"I can't remember, but it is set in Ireland around about Liams time. My mother used to read it to me when I was a boy to help me sleep." Cordelia adjusted herself into him again and he began to read. "The rolling hills greeted me home again. The light shone down as God announced my arrival back to the Green Isle. I could see her waiting for me on the dockside, her long raven hair blowing in the wind, her eyes alight in the sunshine. My patient beauty was opened armed for me..." Angel looked down to find Cordelia, with her eyes closed, her breathing equal and shallow, her eyes fluttering in her sleep. He had himself another Cordy Moment. He had seen this before but each time it would be more beautiful and innocent than the last. Her nose twitching in the air, the blood pumping continually around her body, her heart beat slowing as she was drawn deeper into sleep. Doyle had seen this one as well.
*Angel pulled out the key to the door to the office. The dead-bolt wouldn't be on because Cordelia always left it off incase ' A demon popped up in front of her' and she had to make a quick getaway. He push the door quietly open, not seeing a sign of Cordelia anywhere. Doyle tip-toed up behind him and peeped in over his shoulder.
"She probably went home man. You know how she hates waiting for us." Doyle said in his cheeky Irish voice.
Dolye stepped forward and stumbled over his feet as a large ancient text stood in his way. Angel reached out and grabbed his jacket before he had a chance to fall flat on his face. He peered around the door to the black client couch Cordelia had forced him to buy and there she was. Her hair was spread out over the chair arm, a blanket draped loosely across her lower body. Doyle stared at the sleeping beauty before him, in awe.
"You better wake her up 'Cos if I do it she get pissed at me and after that battle I couldn't handle a pissed secretary." Doyle asked, backing off towards the coffee machine.
Angel crouched down beside her sleeping form and rested his hand on her shoulder.
"Come on Cordelia, we're home. Time to wake up now and go home." He shook her softly.
Cordelia stirred slightly and her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the lamp on her desk that was now on. She tried to focus on something then swatted Angel hand away before turning over muttering some obscenity in her sleep laden voice.
"Beautiful isn't it?" Dolye whispered beside Angel, a cup of nuked coffee in his hands. "That is what every man wants to come home too."
"I don't understand why you don't just ask her out or at least tell her how you feel."
"Rejection! I don't want the rejection plus I'm a half demon and demons + Cordelia don't mix."
He was gone three days later leaving her broken heart in his wake.*
Angel stirred from his sleep, sensing another presence in the room. He looked to his left to see Buffy standing there, a small clear tear running down her cheek.
"Buffy! Cordelia wake up. Come on princess." Angel shook her lightly, his sleepy voice full of Irish tone.
"Doyle?" Answered a drowsy Cordelia, a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
"No Cora, it's only me, Angel." He watched the hope quickly fade in her face to be replaced by warmness and kind, something he had never seen in Darlas eyes. "Buffy is here."
Cordelia lifted her head lazily from Angels chest and looked over at Buffys hurt face. "I'll get the coffee then, you do have a coffee machine here don't you." Cordelia climbed off the couch and brushed past Buffy towards the kitchen. She stopped short of the door as Dennis started up the portable coffee machine in the barren kitchen. She leaned against the door frame and listened as the two ex-lovers spoke.
"Buffy, I didn't expect you this early in the morning." He looked at his watch. "10am, shouldn't you be at classes?"
"No, I have them this afternoon." She looked away briefly. "I shouldn't have come." She went to walk off but Angel grabbed her arm.
"No stay, we have to talk."
"Yeah I guess we should talk. I guess you and Cordelia are...I'm OK with that. I mean she is the bitch but I have Riley and I'm happy for you. I mean it, I really am." Buffy babbled on.
"I meant talk about the battle that Giles was talking about at the Magic Box but we can talk about something else if you like. Me and Cordelia aren't together." He wrinkled his nose slightly at the thought. "She isn't mine to have, she loved Doyle too much and she is my Seer, my best friend. There isn't anyone except..."
"Darla." She saw his shocked face. "I heard you and Cordelia talking about her at shop. I thought you staked her, I saw you."
"Wolfram and Hart raised her again to get at Angelus, put Wesley in hospital and Cordelia in the nuero-phyc ward. She came back to town with a bang. I went off the rails for a while but I came to my senses in time to stop me losing the most important things to me."
"Oh I see, I take it you did stake her huh?" Buffy sat down on the couch beside Angel.
"No!" Buffy stared at him. "I'm not as strong as you when it comes to killing the people you loved." He realised what he said but it was too late. "Buffy I didn't mean to...What about this demon?"
"It's big, it bad and it's very ugly, not to mention the bad breath. It's half human and can only be killed when it's I demon form. That only happens on a full moon. There are way to many 'only' in that sentence. Giles recite a few binding spells to hold him while I stab him to death with a silver dagger and the a dissipation spell to make sure he never rises again. I've faced worse, like Adam."
"But Giles told Cordelia that he was your greatest battle since Adam."
"You know Giles, always big with the demons, he just got worse now he has no job. He really should have thought about that when he blew up the school."
Cordelia turned back to the kitchen and three cups of coffee sat on the counter. "Thanks Dennis." She mumbled before heading back into the lions pit.
"Here you go." She handed the cups out. "So is there anything I can help with?"
"No Cordelia, you aren't doing anything. What if something was to happen to you are Wolfram and Hart decide to pay a little visit? I thought about it and you are going to be at the Magic Box while me and Buffy go to fight. I asked Willow and Tara will be there with you to perform a barrier spell so that no one came get in 'till she drops it."
"Well nice to know I am still in control of my own life. God Angel who gave you chains and told you to tie me up?" Cordelia moaned.
"You seen the photos, someone has been watching you. Now let it go."
Cordelia sat down on the other couch and huffed, sticking her tongue out at Angel;. Buffy sniggered.
"Cordelia don't let the wind change or you'll never be an actress."
Later:
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The three friends walked into the Magic Box to find a wide array of weaponry sitting out, gleaming. Riley sat at one of the desks, dressed up in his camouflage and a phazer blaster sitting beside him. Willow was mixing herds in a pestle and mortal while Tara watched her, twirling a piece of her blonde hair in her fingers. Giles was still sitting in the same position that Buffy had left him in earlier after Angel and Cordelia left. He was sitting behind the counter checking and double checking the incantations.
"Cordelia," Tara said. "So it looks like I get too be your baby-sitter tonight. I'm not even getting paid for it." The normally nervous girl felt comfortable in Cordelias company.
"Don't remind me, I get to stake him later for it." Cordelia pointed off in Angels direction.
"Right troops are we ready to go?" Xander announced now that he had arrived.
The Slayerettes headed off out of the door and Tara dead-blotted it behind them and began chanting quietly in Latin. A blue glow appeared around the door, showing that Tara had been successful. The two girls sat talking about Cordelia and Xander then it shifted to what had happened when Oz had came back, a painful subject that was soon dropped. The clock struck 1am, the gang having been gone about 30 minutes. There was a delicate knock at the door and then they tried to open the door but it wouldn't budge.
"Hello, is anyone there." A female voice asked.
Cordelia walked up to the door and peered through the frosted glass. A tall woman about Cordelias height stood there, her ginger tresses up behind her head. She was wearing a light blue, high-necked jumper and stone coloured cargo pants. Her English voice prominent as she shouted through the glass again.
"Cordelia are you there?" Cordelia took a step back from the door. "Cordelia, my name is Isabelle. Wesley sent me to help protect you."
Cordelia whispered back to Tara to drop the spell and the light blue haze disappeared. She opened the door to find the girl with a smile on her face. She stepped passed Cordelia, uninvited.
"So how do you know Wesley? He hasn't really mentioned you." Cordelia asked.
"Does Wesley ever talk about anyone at The Watchers Council? That's how I know him. Watchers rarely talk about who they know incase the secret comes out. We are a tight-knit organisation, well used to be. Wesley thought I might be of use because I was a bodyguard to the important Council Members until I left 2 years ago."
"Great now I have a Wicca and a bodyguard to baby-sit me. So do you want a coffee Isabelle?"
"No, I think it would be better if I took you back to the mansion. It's more secure and easier to defend."
"Oh, OK." Cordelia grabbed her purse and headed out of the door. She turned back around because Tara hadn't followed. "Are you coming Tara?" She watched as the young Wicca bit on her bottom lip.
"Nah I'll wait for Willow and let them know where you are."
Meanwhile At The Battlefield, aka the Cemetery:
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Angel was in full vamp mode as Buffy high kicked and high rolled the demons ferocious lunches. Willow stood still, her eyes closed, chanting while Giles leant against a gravestone, out cold. A trickle of blood gave away the nature of the mans peaceful look. Angel felt a buzzing in his head as he felt his link shift. Cordelia was on the move, moving out of the powerful magic he had sensed earlier. The tingling took him off guard as the demon pummelled him against a crypt wall. He could hear Buffys frantic shouting.
"Angel come on. Willow can't hold on much longer." He felt a slap to his lower jaw. "For Christ sakes Angel, this is no time to be daydreaming."
Angel came to his senses and swung his axe high in the air, bringing it crashing down on the demons head. Buffy ran to catch a collapsing Willow as a resounding crack rang through the air, the demon slumping down dead before disintegrating. Angel picked up Giles and slung him over his shoulder while Buffy helped Willow back o her feet. He hurried back to the Magic Box to find Cordelia.
The door swung back angrily, almost off it's hinges. Tara leapt back in fright, her mind trying to form an incantation to protect herself. Angel placed Giles carefully in the chair before looking quickly around the shop to find Cordelia no where insight.
"Tara where is Cordelia?" Angel asked, growing impatient.
"Oh, Wesley sent one of his Watcher friends, Isabelle, to protect Cordy and she took her back to the mansion, safer she reckoned."
"One of Wesley's friends? Wesley doesn't have any friends. I didn't even tell him about Co...." Angel trailed off, realisation suddenly hitting him.
"What is it?" Buffy asked as she placed a light hand on his shoulder.
He sprung around at the pulsing touch. "Wolfram and Hart!" He managed to shout before running out the door towards the mansion.
Angel jumped into the convertible and sped off to the mansion, the car door not even closed. He roared towards the ancient house. As he neared the house he couldn't feel Cordelia and he couldn't smell her scent in the breezeless airless night. He could smell fear, a terrifying fear. His unbeating heart filled with dread. He noticed a white piece of paper daggered to his door, Angel pulled it out with a force, growing in anger and worry. He read the note over and over again.
'YOU WERE TOLD YOU COULDN'T PROTECT HER. YOU KNOW WHAT WE WANT. MEET ME AT THE OLD MILL AT MIDNIGHT TOMORROW, NO SLAYER.'
Angel turned away, his black trench coat flaring in the wind as it blew across the barren street. He lifted his head up to the wind but there was no smell of Cordelias vanilla and strawberry essence. He jumped back into the convertible and fled back to the Magic Box.
A black figure peeled out of the darkness at the side of the mansion and a cackle filled the air. Her ginger hair blew in the wind, as she carefully stood down wind from the vampires car.
Angel threw the Magic Box door open and let out an involuntary growl in anger. The 7 occupants turned around to face him.
"Angel I thought you were going back to the mansion." Buffy asked. Riley turned to her a surprised look on his face.
"I was, I did but then I found this." He trust the torn white note into Giles hands. "Someone's got her and I want to know who."
Giles scratched the bridge of his nose and tutted slightly. "Well Angel, I don't know how you expect me to find her."
"You can do a Reversing Spell, to see who wrote it. I don't know the spell but I'm sure you or Willow could help me." His face turned from anger to pain on his face. "Please Giles she was a part of you."
"Right, me and Willow will look in to the spell, I think there is one but it is pretty powerful. Angel, go find Spike, he will help you but be careful it's near sun rise and you are no go to Cordelia as ashes. Buffy, can you go and 'ask' Willie and Riley could you ask your soldier people if they have seen anything different. These kind of people like to frequent down at the docks."
Willow was already in the back of the shop looking through their ancient text while Tara searched out front. Giles hurried to the phone in his office to ask some past associates if they could help or had seen anything but they didn't know anything or they were scared.
His head was still buzzing from where the demon had back-handed him against the gravestone.
Meanwhile:
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Cordelia shifted her weight on the cold, stone floor. Her head throbbed, emanating from where someone had thumped her head with something blunt. It was all coming painfully back to her. She had walked out of the Magic Box with that girl, Isabelle, and then they had walked past a dark alley. Two men had grabbed her while Isabelle just laughed. She had tried to cry out for her help but she felt the butt of a gun come into contact with her head and it all went black. Here she was, in a cold, danky basement, no doubt with a huge bruise on her neck. She let out a sigh, she had been here before when the Impate Demon kidnapped her and Wolfram and Hart tried to sell her. The worse thing you could do is panic. The icy feeling of the metal rattled around her wrists, leaving red marks. She sat back, thinking of the last 24 hours. She had stabbed Spike and found out he was good, as in the not evil sense. She had found out Willow was now playing for the other side and most importantly she had brought Angel back from the brink. Not Buffy or Wesley and his nonsense scroll, but her, Cordelia. When he had shown her the pictures she had been freaked out but I all seemed OK when Angel said he would protect her. The conversation flashed through her mind again. 'Also we were best friends, we share a link.....The visions are that link, you mean a great deal to me.' The link? She has begun to know where he was and what he was doing even if she was at an audition in the city, she could feel his nightmares and peace while he slept but ever since he had gone the link had thinned. Cordelia rested her back against the damp wall and took as deep beathe. She closed her eyes and tried to focus on his face, his body movements as she silently watched his Tai Chi. She searched her mind but she couldn't find anything.
"Damn!" She slammed her fists against the floor in frustration, rattling the chains.
*She sat back again and tried to hone in on one memory, a happy thought. She found one, hidden away in her private thoughts. Cordelia and Angel were staying at her apartment after the original A.I blew up and they were sitting on the couch/Angels bed when he wasn't demon hunting. Great Expectations was playing on the screen in front of them, the end credit starting to roll up. Angel complained all the way through it that Charles Dickens had never intended for Pip to live in a shack house and that there was never a dock at the back of the big house because it was set in Yorkshire not Florida. Cordelia let out a cat-like yawn and settled back into the couch. Angel laughed inwardly at Cordelias unfeminine show and pulled her body closer to his. He could feel her warmth and increasing heartbeat. She sat with her head resting on his chest, comforted by his unbeating heart, he gently stroked her long, brown hair. There, they sat until Wesley showed up the next day and the frantic rust began to make it look like they had slept separately.*
Cordelia could see him, walking through the streets back to the mansion, she felt Angelus delighting after the battle. Cordelia could feel his worry and his fear, his worry about her. Then she felt the worse of all Angels feelings, the guilt and the regret over all the deaths and pain he caused as the demon with and angelic face.
At All Costs - Part Two
He resisted the urge to pull her into his arms and banish what ever pain was making her cry, but he was that pain and he had still had to tell her the reason he was here.
"Cordelia, I have something to tell you but I don't want you to be frightened."
Cordelia stood up and straightened her shirt. "What could frighten me? Demons trying to take over the world, Vampires, eyes being gorged out? I don't think." She covered her mouth in a pretend yawn. "Been there, done that."
"Someone might be trying to kill you." He studied her closely for a reaction. "Did you hear what I said? Someone or something is trying to kill you."
"Yeah, I'm not deaf you know. People try and kill us everyday, they are called Wolfram and Hart and they haven't done very well at it yet."
"Not US, YOU. But don't worry they won't get near you."
"Why would they be trying to kill me, I'm nothing but a Seer, not even the PTB like me." Cordelia stumbled backward and Angel reached out to catch her.
Buffy now stood at the door, watching the intimacy, the familiarity between the two, her heart taking another beating. Her brain taking in the words and the scene that was taking place in her training room. His arms as they reached out, almost automatically, as Cordelia stumbled over the padded mats. The way he now sat on the mats, stroking her hair, soothing her sobs. Waiting for her to speak. This was coming from her true love, her immortal. He was sitting there with someone he hardly knew and she hated, in his lap. This was too surreal for her but she couldn't turn away.
"Why do they want to kill me? I thought that they wanted Angelus." Cordelia whimpered.
"I guess they finally figured out that wasn't going to happen. They are trying to destroy me in the most painful way possible, by taking those I love and hold dear."
Cordelia sprung up out of his lap as if he were on fire. "Then it isn't me that you need to protect, it's Buffy. They will start with Buffy and your Sire hates Buffy as well. I say double whammy, much."
"Cordelia I went to Wolfram and Hart, stole some files. Here." He handed the same file he had taken from Lindseys drawer. "They are all pictures of you. Don't you see? Now the Oracles are gone and Whistler isn't around, you are my only connect to the PTB. Take that away and I have no fight. Also we were best friends, we share a link. I knew you weren't in LA and I knew to find you here. The visions are that link, you mean a great deal to me, Lindsey knows that. Do I have to spell it out to you?" Angel asked growing impatient.
Cordelia pretended to think about it. "Um...Yes." Angel went to open his mouth. "No don't bother I get the picture." She giggled at the unintended joke. "God they even took pictures of me without any make-up on. So what do we do?"
"I think it would be better if we stayed here a while, I mean who is better to protect you than a souled Vampire, a Slayer, A commando, and the Slayettes? I'll get the mansion sorted and we can stay there. Wesley and Gunn are going to stay in LA, let us know about Wolfram and Hart plus they have to fight your demon visions. Cordelia, I'm sorry about letting you down and turning my back on you. I never ever wanted to hurt you."
Cordelia reached out and lightly touched him on the arm. "I know, if I had known for a second that she was going to cause this much trouble I would have shackled you into the basement and went and staked her myself, or got Wesley to do it. I should have made you talk to me instead of being so self obsessed. I tell you what, you take me out for a cappuccino and a Danish and we'll call it quits."
"Deal." Angel smiled for the first time in a month.
"These mats are very comfy though."
Buffy heard Cordelia and Angel climb to their feet, their feet padding about on the mats as they pulled each other up. She scurried across the wooden floor and into the closet where the weapons were kept, trying to be as quite as possible. Buffy listen as Angel and Cordelia left the shop with Cordelia saying. "Have you heard about Spike?" She slumped down the door missing the cross bow and the silver broadsword on the way down. She wrapped her arms around herself, hugging herself in a bid the control her body as it racked with sobs.
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"So he tries to go for me but this pain goes through his head and he jumps back. The look on his face was priceless as he sat there on his butt." Cordelia laughed.
Angel sat and listened, laugh were necessary but smiling genuinely everytime her smile reminded how he had nearly lost her. Her smile faltered slightly but Angel saw it.
"Cordelia, what's up? There's something on your mind."
Her smile was gone now. "I was just thinking what if Wolfram and Hart do get to me, what will happen to your redemption?"
"TPTB will probably send me another Seer. Cordelia you are safe with me, no one will hurt you. You do realise that my redemption won't happen in your life time."
"Yeah I know, but I wanna help as much as I can. I seen what you were like when Doyle died. If it hadn't been for the visions, my audition, Wesley, and me getting kidnapped, you would have wallowed in guilt and pity till you staked yourself. You have to promise me if, when, I die you won't grieve or wallow, be happy. Celebrate that the world is down another crappy actress and that you are finally rid of your whinny Seer." She half laughed, looking into his eyes.
Angel placed his hand over hers. "You amaze me so much. Thank-you."
Buffy watched form the shadows, her heart almost breaking in two again. It had taken her so long to mend, the whole summer, almost a year. In the end she decided to give Angel what he wanted for her, a normal life. It didn't quite work out that way but she was happy, until now. She saw the closeness the two shared and she was jealous. She yearned for that feeling again. Riley had been distant from her since he had found out about Angel, he had changed. The Vampire bite on his neck had never healed probably and when ever she had went to see him in his dorm she could smell Vampire all around her. She turned back the cafe scene but they were gone.
Angel pushed the heavy oak door, sealed shut by the rain and the Ivy that had claimed it since he had left nearly three years ago. No one else had been there in that time, no one would dare enter the Lair of Angelus. Angel held up the droopy Ivy as Cordelia passed through the doorway and into the huge expanse of the entrance hall. She sniffed the air.
"Eww, it's smelly in here. You never had air freshener in 17 hundred and odd then? I guess not."
"Cordelia, the house hasn't been used in three years. Expected it to be musty in some places."
"You really like he old, ruin look don't you? I like new and fresh and non-wood word furniture. Dennis would love it here, so much to tidy." She looked in a distant manner.
Angel disappeared for a second and came back holding a mahogany and silver box. "Here open it."
Cordelia peeled back the lid like Pandorras Box and a whoosh of air flew passed her ears. The wind then began spinning around the room, blowing dust everywhere.
"Dennis!" Cordelia cried out as if the ghost would hug her back. "Angel how did.."
"He was creating a commotion at your apartment and the police were called. Kate called me since it was your apartment and Dennis was playing Jazz at full blast on your stereo. So I performed a Wandering spell on him and here he is."
"You knew that I would take you back, I mean that I would forgive you didn't you?"
"No I didn't but I didn't know how long you were going to be in Sunnydale and we dead guys stick together."
"Dennis find the biggest room in the house, it will be mine and tidy it up. Fresh sheets, everything. Then tidy the kitchen. I will start on the living room. You," She pointed at Angel. "Go find a room, the sun will be up soon and you'll need to help Buffy in the evening. She has some sort of big battle coming up and she needs help by the sounds of things. I don't know, give her all the super powers in the world and she still needs a man to sort out her demons." Cordelia shook her head.
Angel smiled and walked out in to the bedroom area of the mansion. He went into one room and as soon as he entered it, Dennis started whizzing around, changing the sheets, pulling down the shutters against the advancing sun.
Angel lay here staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. He could hear Cordelia rustling downstairs. It was a comforting sound, it meant she was safe and that was all that mattered right now. if he concentrated hard enough he could hear her heart beating.
Cordelia felt him move through the house, she still sat there, tracing the blackened outline near the fireplace where Angel had fell back to earth. She felt cold hands on her shoulders.
"God Angel, how many times do I have to tell you to hum when your creeping up on people?"
"I don't hum Cordelia."
"I'll buy you a cat collar and padlock it to your neck, I swear."
"I'll hum." He said quickly "Anyway, why haven't you gone to bed?"
"I haven't read a bit of my book yet. I can't sleep if I don't." Cordelia whined then pouted.
"Well if you check the library, I'm sure you'll find it there."
"Nah this on was on-line and no computer means no Internet so no reading. You really should have this place modernised. I mean the minimalist look was good, like last year and it really doesn't go with this Out-Of-The-Ark look."
Angel turned and walked out of the living room into a room off the hall. He came back carrying an ancient looking book in his hands. He blew the layer of thick dust off the top of it and opened if up. He motioned Cordelia to come over to the couch and sit beside him. She lowered herself into Angels lap and he pulled her across him. She nestled nicely of his chest, rubbing her face into the comforting feel of his soft woollen jumper. He opened the book and turned to the first yellowed page.
"What's it called?" Cordelia mumbled.
"I can't remember, but it is set in Ireland around about Liams time. My mother used to read it to me when I was a boy to help me sleep." Cordelia adjusted herself into him again and he began to read. "The rolling hills greeted me home again. The light shone down as God announced my arrival back to the Green Isle. I could see her waiting for me on the dockside, her long raven hair blowing in the wind, her eyes alight in the sunshine. My patient beauty was opened armed for me..." Angel looked down to find Cordelia, with her eyes closed, her breathing equal and shallow, her eyes fluttering in her sleep. He had himself another Cordy Moment. He had seen this before but each time it would be more beautiful and innocent than the last. Her nose twitching in the air, the blood pumping continually around her body, her heart beat slowing as she was drawn deeper into sleep. Doyle had seen this one as well.
*Angel pulled out the key to the door to the office. The dead-bolt wouldn't be on because Cordelia always left it off incase ' A demon popped up in front of her' and she had to make a quick getaway. He push the door quietly open, not seeing a sign of Cordelia anywhere. Doyle tip-toed up behind him and peeped in over his shoulder.
"She probably went home man. You know how she hates waiting for us." Doyle said in his cheeky Irish voice.
Dolye stepped forward and stumbled over his feet as a large ancient text stood in his way. Angel reached out and grabbed his jacket before he had a chance to fall flat on his face. He peered around the door to the black client couch Cordelia had forced him to buy and there she was. Her hair was spread out over the chair arm, a blanket draped loosely across her lower body. Doyle stared at the sleeping beauty before him, in awe.
"You better wake her up 'Cos if I do it she get pissed at me and after that battle I couldn't handle a pissed secretary." Doyle asked, backing off towards the coffee machine.
Angel crouched down beside her sleeping form and rested his hand on her shoulder.
"Come on Cordelia, we're home. Time to wake up now and go home." He shook her softly.
Cordelia stirred slightly and her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the lamp on her desk that was now on. She tried to focus on something then swatted Angel hand away before turning over muttering some obscenity in her sleep laden voice.
"Beautiful isn't it?" Dolye whispered beside Angel, a cup of nuked coffee in his hands. "That is what every man wants to come home too."
"I don't understand why you don't just ask her out or at least tell her how you feel."
"Rejection! I don't want the rejection plus I'm a half demon and demons + Cordelia don't mix."
He was gone three days later leaving her broken heart in his wake.*
Angel stirred from his sleep, sensing another presence in the room. He looked to his left to see Buffy standing there, a small clear tear running down her cheek.
"Buffy! Cordelia wake up. Come on princess." Angel shook her lightly, his sleepy voice full of Irish tone.
"Doyle?" Answered a drowsy Cordelia, a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
"No Cora, it's only me, Angel." He watched the hope quickly fade in her face to be replaced by warmness and kind, something he had never seen in Darlas eyes. "Buffy is here."
Cordelia lifted her head lazily from Angels chest and looked over at Buffys hurt face. "I'll get the coffee then, you do have a coffee machine here don't you." Cordelia climbed off the couch and brushed past Buffy towards the kitchen. She stopped short of the door as Dennis started up the portable coffee machine in the barren kitchen. She leaned against the door frame and listened as the two ex-lovers spoke.
"Buffy, I didn't expect you this early in the morning." He looked at his watch. "10am, shouldn't you be at classes?"
"No, I have them this afternoon." She looked away briefly. "I shouldn't have come." She went to walk off but Angel grabbed her arm.
"No stay, we have to talk."
"Yeah I guess we should talk. I guess you and Cordelia are...I'm OK with that. I mean she is the bitch but I have Riley and I'm happy for you. I mean it, I really am." Buffy babbled on.
"I meant talk about the battle that Giles was talking about at the Magic Box but we can talk about something else if you like. Me and Cordelia aren't together." He wrinkled his nose slightly at the thought. "She isn't mine to have, she loved Doyle too much and she is my Seer, my best friend. There isn't anyone except..."
"Darla." She saw his shocked face. "I heard you and Cordelia talking about her at shop. I thought you staked her, I saw you."
"Wolfram and Hart raised her again to get at Angelus, put Wesley in hospital and Cordelia in the nuero-phyc ward. She came back to town with a bang. I went off the rails for a while but I came to my senses in time to stop me losing the most important things to me."
"Oh I see, I take it you did stake her huh?" Buffy sat down on the couch beside Angel.
"No!" Buffy stared at him. "I'm not as strong as you when it comes to killing the people you loved." He realised what he said but it was too late. "Buffy I didn't mean to...What about this demon?"
"It's big, it bad and it's very ugly, not to mention the bad breath. It's half human and can only be killed when it's I demon form. That only happens on a full moon. There are way to many 'only' in that sentence. Giles recite a few binding spells to hold him while I stab him to death with a silver dagger and the a dissipation spell to make sure he never rises again. I've faced worse, like Adam."
"But Giles told Cordelia that he was your greatest battle since Adam."
"You know Giles, always big with the demons, he just got worse now he has no job. He really should have thought about that when he blew up the school."
Cordelia turned back to the kitchen and three cups of coffee sat on the counter. "Thanks Dennis." She mumbled before heading back into the lions pit.
"Here you go." She handed the cups out. "So is there anything I can help with?"
"No Cordelia, you aren't doing anything. What if something was to happen to you are Wolfram and Hart decide to pay a little visit? I thought about it and you are going to be at the Magic Box while me and Buffy go to fight. I asked Willow and Tara will be there with you to perform a barrier spell so that no one came get in 'till she drops it."
"Well nice to know I am still in control of my own life. God Angel who gave you chains and told you to tie me up?" Cordelia moaned.
"You seen the photos, someone has been watching you. Now let it go."
Cordelia sat down on the other couch and huffed, sticking her tongue out at Angel;. Buffy sniggered.
"Cordelia don't let the wind change or you'll never be an actress."
Later:
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The three friends walked into the Magic Box to find a wide array of weaponry sitting out, gleaming. Riley sat at one of the desks, dressed up in his camouflage and a phazer blaster sitting beside him. Willow was mixing herds in a pestle and mortal while Tara watched her, twirling a piece of her blonde hair in her fingers. Giles was still sitting in the same position that Buffy had left him in earlier after Angel and Cordelia left. He was sitting behind the counter checking and double checking the incantations.
"Cordelia," Tara said. "So it looks like I get too be your baby-sitter tonight. I'm not even getting paid for it." The normally nervous girl felt comfortable in Cordelias company.
"Don't remind me, I get to stake him later for it." Cordelia pointed off in Angels direction.
"Right troops are we ready to go?" Xander announced now that he had arrived.
The Slayerettes headed off out of the door and Tara dead-blotted it behind them and began chanting quietly in Latin. A blue glow appeared around the door, showing that Tara had been successful. The two girls sat talking about Cordelia and Xander then it shifted to what had happened when Oz had came back, a painful subject that was soon dropped. The clock struck 1am, the gang having been gone about 30 minutes. There was a delicate knock at the door and then they tried to open the door but it wouldn't budge.
"Hello, is anyone there." A female voice asked.
Cordelia walked up to the door and peered through the frosted glass. A tall woman about Cordelias height stood there, her ginger tresses up behind her head. She was wearing a light blue, high-necked jumper and stone coloured cargo pants. Her English voice prominent as she shouted through the glass again.
"Cordelia are you there?" Cordelia took a step back from the door. "Cordelia, my name is Isabelle. Wesley sent me to help protect you."
Cordelia whispered back to Tara to drop the spell and the light blue haze disappeared. She opened the door to find the girl with a smile on her face. She stepped passed Cordelia, uninvited.
"So how do you know Wesley? He hasn't really mentioned you." Cordelia asked.
"Does Wesley ever talk about anyone at The Watchers Council? That's how I know him. Watchers rarely talk about who they know incase the secret comes out. We are a tight-knit organisation, well used to be. Wesley thought I might be of use because I was a bodyguard to the important Council Members until I left 2 years ago."
"Great now I have a Wicca and a bodyguard to baby-sit me. So do you want a coffee Isabelle?"
"No, I think it would be better if I took you back to the mansion. It's more secure and easier to defend."
"Oh, OK." Cordelia grabbed her purse and headed out of the door. She turned back around because Tara hadn't followed. "Are you coming Tara?" She watched as the young Wicca bit on her bottom lip.
"Nah I'll wait for Willow and let them know where you are."
Meanwhile At The Battlefield, aka the Cemetery:
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Angel was in full vamp mode as Buffy high kicked and high rolled the demons ferocious lunches. Willow stood still, her eyes closed, chanting while Giles leant against a gravestone, out cold. A trickle of blood gave away the nature of the mans peaceful look. Angel felt a buzzing in his head as he felt his link shift. Cordelia was on the move, moving out of the powerful magic he had sensed earlier. The tingling took him off guard as the demon pummelled him against a crypt wall. He could hear Buffys frantic shouting.
"Angel come on. Willow can't hold on much longer." He felt a slap to his lower jaw. "For Christ sakes Angel, this is no time to be daydreaming."
Angel came to his senses and swung his axe high in the air, bringing it crashing down on the demons head. Buffy ran to catch a collapsing Willow as a resounding crack rang through the air, the demon slumping down dead before disintegrating. Angel picked up Giles and slung him over his shoulder while Buffy helped Willow back o her feet. He hurried back to the Magic Box to find Cordelia.
The door swung back angrily, almost off it's hinges. Tara leapt back in fright, her mind trying to form an incantation to protect herself. Angel placed Giles carefully in the chair before looking quickly around the shop to find Cordelia no where insight.
"Tara where is Cordelia?" Angel asked, growing impatient.
"Oh, Wesley sent one of his Watcher friends, Isabelle, to protect Cordy and she took her back to the mansion, safer she reckoned."
"One of Wesley's friends? Wesley doesn't have any friends. I didn't even tell him about Co...." Angel trailed off, realisation suddenly hitting him.
"What is it?" Buffy asked as she placed a light hand on his shoulder.
He sprung around at the pulsing touch. "Wolfram and Hart!" He managed to shout before running out the door towards the mansion.
Angel jumped into the convertible and sped off to the mansion, the car door not even closed. He roared towards the ancient house. As he neared the house he couldn't feel Cordelia and he couldn't smell her scent in the breezeless airless night. He could smell fear, a terrifying fear. His unbeating heart filled with dread. He noticed a white piece of paper daggered to his door, Angel pulled it out with a force, growing in anger and worry. He read the note over and over again.
'YOU WERE TOLD YOU COULDN'T PROTECT HER. YOU KNOW WHAT WE WANT. MEET ME AT THE OLD MILL AT MIDNIGHT TOMORROW, NO SLAYER.'
Angel turned away, his black trench coat flaring in the wind as it blew across the barren street. He lifted his head up to the wind but there was no smell of Cordelias vanilla and strawberry essence. He jumped back into the convertible and fled back to the Magic Box.
A black figure peeled out of the darkness at the side of the mansion and a cackle filled the air. Her ginger hair blew in the wind, as she carefully stood down wind from the vampires car.
Angel threw the Magic Box door open and let out an involuntary growl in anger. The 7 occupants turned around to face him.
"Angel I thought you were going back to the mansion." Buffy asked. Riley turned to her a surprised look on his face.
"I was, I did but then I found this." He trust the torn white note into Giles hands. "Someone's got her and I want to know who."
Giles scratched the bridge of his nose and tutted slightly. "Well Angel, I don't know how you expect me to find her."
"You can do a Reversing Spell, to see who wrote it. I don't know the spell but I'm sure you or Willow could help me." His face turned from anger to pain on his face. "Please Giles she was a part of you."
"Right, me and Willow will look in to the spell, I think there is one but it is pretty powerful. Angel, go find Spike, he will help you but be careful it's near sun rise and you are no go to Cordelia as ashes. Buffy, can you go and 'ask' Willie and Riley could you ask your soldier people if they have seen anything different. These kind of people like to frequent down at the docks."
Willow was already in the back of the shop looking through their ancient text while Tara searched out front. Giles hurried to the phone in his office to ask some past associates if they could help or had seen anything but they didn't know anything or they were scared.
His head was still buzzing from where the demon had back-handed him against the gravestone.
Meanwhile:
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Cordelia shifted her weight on the cold, stone floor. Her head throbbed, emanating from where someone had thumped her head with something blunt. It was all coming painfully back to her. She had walked out of the Magic Box with that girl, Isabelle, and then they had walked past a dark alley. Two men had grabbed her while Isabelle just laughed. She had tried to cry out for her help but she felt the butt of a gun come into contact with her head and it all went black. Here she was, in a cold, danky basement, no doubt with a huge bruise on her neck. She let out a sigh, she had been here before when the Impate Demon kidnapped her and Wolfram and Hart tried to sell her. The worse thing you could do is panic. The icy feeling of the metal rattled around her wrists, leaving red marks. She sat back, thinking of the last 24 hours. She had stabbed Spike and found out he was good, as in the not evil sense. She had found out Willow was now playing for the other side and most importantly she had brought Angel back from the brink. Not Buffy or Wesley and his nonsense scroll, but her, Cordelia. When he had shown her the pictures she had been freaked out but I all seemed OK when Angel said he would protect her. The conversation flashed through her mind again. 'Also we were best friends, we share a link.....The visions are that link, you mean a great deal to me.' The link? She has begun to know where he was and what he was doing even if she was at an audition in the city, she could feel his nightmares and peace while he slept but ever since he had gone the link had thinned. Cordelia rested her back against the damp wall and took as deep beathe. She closed her eyes and tried to focus on his face, his body movements as she silently watched his Tai Chi. She searched her mind but she couldn't find anything.
"Damn!" She slammed her fists against the floor in frustration, rattling the chains.
*She sat back again and tried to hone in on one memory, a happy thought. She found one, hidden away in her private thoughts. Cordelia and Angel were staying at her apartment after the original A.I blew up and they were sitting on the couch/Angels bed when he wasn't demon hunting. Great Expectations was playing on the screen in front of them, the end credit starting to roll up. Angel complained all the way through it that Charles Dickens had never intended for Pip to live in a shack house and that there was never a dock at the back of the big house because it was set in Yorkshire not Florida. Cordelia let out a cat-like yawn and settled back into the couch. Angel laughed inwardly at Cordelias unfeminine show and pulled her body closer to his. He could feel her warmth and increasing heartbeat. She sat with her head resting on his chest, comforted by his unbeating heart, he gently stroked her long, brown hair. There, they sat until Wesley showed up the next day and the frantic rust began to make it look like they had slept separately.*
Cordelia could see him, walking through the streets back to the mansion, she felt Angelus delighting after the battle. Cordelia could feel his worry and his fear, his worry about her. Then she felt the worse of all Angels feelings, the guilt and the regret over all the deaths and pain he caused as the demon with and angelic face.